ah opposed it,
while Mr. Jerrold grew hot and cold by turns, as he thought what might
possibly be brought to light if the house were removed and any
excavations made, as there might be. As if divining what was in his
mind, Bessie continued:

"I do not mean to have the new house just where this one stands, but
farther to the right. We can fill up the cellar with the debris, and
have loads of earth brought in and make a kind of plateau, with it
terrace all around it. We can make that plateau so lovely with shrubs,
and flowers, and grass. I once saw one like what I have in mind, at a
country place in England, and in one corner, under a willow tree, was a
little grave; the only son of the house had been buried there, and I
thought it so lovely to have a monument of flowers, and trees and
singing birds."

Locking into the blue eyes fixed so earnestly upon him, Mr. Jerrold read
what she meant, and said to her:

"You shall do as you like; if Hannah does not object."

Hannah, too, began to get a glimpse of the truth, and so did Grey, and
when she said, "You are all willing--it is settled?" they answered yes,
and Grey went with her to choose the site for the new house, which in
her impetuosity, she declared should be commenced at once saying she
would remain in Allington during the summer and superintend it herself.

It was Bessie who choose the site, to the right of the old building and
near a great flat rock which she said she meant to have in a corner of
the yard, as it would be such a nice play-house for children.

"Yes, a very nice play-house for children," Grey said, winding his arms
around her and kissing her blushing cheek, and then they sat down upon
the rock and talked of and planned the house, and Bessie told him all
that was in her mind in regard to the plateau, which she meant to make
as beautiful as a garden, so that no one would ever dream it held a
grave.

"I ought to do something for him," she said; "and as my grandmother was
fond of flowers, and grass, and singing birds, so I am sure was he, and
he shall have them in abundance, and maybe he will know that his
sister's granddaughter is doing it for him, and be glad."

In the light of this new idea, Mr. Jerrold, Hannah and Grey entered
heart and soul into Bessie's project, and within a week a plan for the
cottage had been drawn, and a contract made with the builders who were
to commence work at once. Neither Hannah nor Bessie were present when
the walls